Locomotive stoker



Aug. 11, 1936.

C. J. SURDY LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed oon-51,

1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l f INVENTOR. af/d JafQ/y ATTORNEY.

Aug. 11, 1936. Y Q J SURDY 2,056,984

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER F/.iled Oct. 3l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "i INVENTOR.

BY @Izar/e4 I/1^@ G. ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES p TE LocoMorIvE s'roKEn Application Qctober 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,547

1e claims. (01.198-15) My present invention relates to locomotive stokers and particularly to means for transferring fuel from the tender to the locomotive.

By this invention I seek to improve the transfer of fuel from the tender to the fuel distributing means on the locomotive and to increase the water capacity of the tender. These results I have attained by a novel relation and arrangement of the fuel transferring means, and the attainment of such results constitutes the main object of my invention.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a locomotive and tender of a flexible fuel transferring means having a conveyor member on the tender mounted for movement about a horizontal transverse axis, and during which movement the axis of said conveyor member is maintained in the same vertical plane.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a locomotive and tender of a fuel transferring means comprising a conveyor member on the locomotive, a conveyor member on the tender mounted for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transverselyof the tender, means for preventing lateral' movement of the conveyor member, and an intermediate conveyor member at one end universally connected to one of said conveyor members and being flexibly connected to the other of said conveyor members for lateral movement only with respect thereto.

A still further object resides in the provision, in the structure above set forth of means supporting said intermediate conveyor member between the ends thereof.

As a more specific object, a resilient support is contemplated for the intermediate conveyor member of this invention.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of construction will become apparent upon reading the following specification in connection with the drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a vertical medial section through adjacent portions of a locomotive and tender, showing the stoker according to my invention in similar section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,'

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 illustrating a modification of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line I--S of Fig. 5.

In the preferred form of my invention as illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, A is the locomotive, B the tender and C a member for intercoupling the locomotive and tender. The locomotive includes the usual boiler iirebox Ill having a firing opening II in the backwall I2. On the tender 5 thereis the usual fuel bin I3 disposed above the fioor HI which is provided with an apterture I5 for receiving shiftable plates I6. Below the oor I4, the tender is provided with a compartment I-'I formed by side plates I8 and the rear plate 10 I9, which plates constitute walls of the water compartment 23.

The Stoker S consists of a fuel distributor 2| disposed at the firing opening Il and themeans for transferring fuel from the bin I3 to said fuel 15 distributor 2l for distribution over the lrebed. Comprising this transferring means, which is indicated generally by T, is a conveyor member 22 mounted on the locomotive, a conveyor member 23 mounted on'the tender, and an intermediate conveyor member 24 disposed between the first and second named conveyor members. These conveyor members are in novel relation with veach other and with the intercoupled locomotive and tender, as will presently appear.

The conveyor member 23, which is mounted within the compartment Il, includes a trough conduit 25 underlying the fuel bin I3 and arranged to receive fuel through the aperture l5 in the floor I4. A screw conveyor 26 is mounted within the trough conduit 25 and is operatively connected at its rearward end with gearing 2l. A prime mover 28supplies the motive power for driving said gearing 21 through the intermediacy Y of shafting 29. At its rearward end, the trough 35 conduit 2-5 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced rollers 30, each of which is journaled upon a trunnion 3I extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the tender. Beneath each roller 30 is a rail or runway 32 upon which the roller 3l] is adapted to move fore and aft and also to pivot about a. horizontal axis.

While providing for this motion of the trough conduit 25, I utilize means for preventing lateral movement of such conduit. 'I'his means consists of a pair of spaced rollers 33 at each upper side of the trough conduit 25 and which rollers are each mounted upon'a vertically disposed pin 34. The rollers 33 are adapted to fit between the wear plates 35 which are securedv to each side plate I8 50 o f the compartment II so as to roll freely therealong while preventing an appreciable lateral movement of the trough conduit 25. k

The conveyor member 22 of the locomotive includes a conduit 36 which supports the distributor the ring opening A firedoor 31 closes the upper portion of the firing opening. At its lower end, the conduit 36 is provided with a foot member 38 which is secured to a bracket 39 for rigidly attaching the conduit 36 to the locomotive.

As stated heretofore, the intermediate conveyor member 24 is disposed between the conveyor members 22, 23 and consists of a tubular conduit 40 which is inextensible in length. 'At its rearward end the tubular conduit 46 is provided withr a spherical shell 4| arranged to be received by a complementary spherical seat 42 formed with the forward end of the trough conduit 25. 'Ihe spherical shell 4| and the spherical seat 42 together cooperate as a universal joint 43 between the trough conduit 25 and the tubular conduit 40.

The forward end 44 of the tubular conduit 46 is seated in the lower rearward portion 45 of the conduit 36 and is mounted for movement with respect to said conduit 36 about an upstanding axis only. To provide for this movement, the forward end 44 of the tubular conduit 40 is provided on its under side with a circular lug 46 which fits within the circular recess 41 formed in the lower rearward portion 45 of the conduit 36.Y A conveyor screw 48 is mounted within the tubular conduit 40 and it is flexibly connected at 49 to the trough screw v26. 'I'he forward end of this conveyor screw 48 is tapered and extends be- .yond the forward end of the tubular conduit 40 and into the conduit 36 so as to terminate closely adjacent the forward wall 50 thereof.

Since the tubular conduit 40 at its rearward end is universally connected to the trough conduit 25, which latter is free to move up or down upon roller 5| is adapted to roll along the upper surface 53 of the bracket 54 which is carried by the locomotive frame 55.

It will be apparent from Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, that all lateral movement of the transferring means incidental to operation of the locomotive and tender around a curve is assumedV solely by `the intermediate conveyor member 24. The slight vertical movement of the transferring means occasioned during passage of the locomotive and Vtender over switches, turntables and frogs is assumed solely by the universal connection 43 between the trough conduit 25 and the tubular conduit 40.

By the construction illustrated, it will be apparent that thel compartment I1 which receives the stoker conveyor member 23 may be relative'- ly narrow since means are provided for preventing any lateral swinging movement thereof. By using a compartment of comparatively narrow width, the water capacity of the tender tank is increased. Furthermore, since the transferring system is inextensible in length, and alsobecause vertical movementbetween the conveyor members 23 and 24 is prevented by the lug 46, the forward end of the kconveyor screw 48 may be positioned closely adjacent the forward wall 50 of the conduit 36. It is also apparent that this conveyor screw 48 may extend intoY thenconduit 36 for a considerable distance therebyrrendering more positive delivery of fuel to the distributor 2| and communicates with the lower portion of 2| than has been heretofore possible in stokers of similar construction.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the relation of the intermediate conveyor member 24a with the conveyor members 22a and 23a is reversed from that illustrated in the preferred embodiment of my invention. Thus, the forward end of the tubular conduit 40a is provided with a spherical ball element 60 which is received in a sphericalseat 6| formed at the lower end of the conduit 36a. to form a universal joint 62 between the tubular conduit 46a and the conduit 36a. At its rearward end the tubular conduit 40a is provided with an upstanding circular lug 63 arranged to fit into a circular recess 64 in the cover 65 which fits over the rearward end of the conduit 40a and is secured to the forward end of the trough conduit 25a.

By this relation of parts, the intermediate conveyor 24a is always in the same vertical relation with the conveyor member 23a. Additional supporting means may also be provided for the intermediate conveyor member 24a. In this form the support bracket 66 is secured to the tender frame 61 and is provided with an upper surface 68 over which a support 69, carried by the intermediate conveyor member 24a, is adapted to slide. VDue to the fact that the conveyormember 22a is mounted on the locomotivein precisely the preferred form of my invention, the intermediate. conveyor member 24a, will have a slight vertical movement with respect to the locomotive and tender Y when these vehicles pass over switches, turntables andfrogs.y For this reason, the support 69 should be made of spring steel so that it will be capable of flexure in a vertical direction in order to assure that it Will function as a support Vfor the intermediate conveyor member 40d under all conditions of service.

As in the preferred form of this invention, the intermediate conveyor member 24a, by reason of its relation with the conveyor members 22a and 23u, will provide the necessary flexibility in the transferringv means when the locomotive and tender are negotiating curves. 'Ihis form differs from the construction illustrated. in the preferred form in that the universal joint 62 between the tubular conduit 40a and the conduit 36a provides for the flexibility in the transferring means when the locomotive and ltender are at` different elevations with respect to each other, such as in crossing switches and turntables. Because of the vertical movement between the conduit 36a and the intermediate conduitv 40a, the forward end of the conveyor'screw 48a should be spaced slightly. from the forward wall 5M of the conduit 36a.

Fromy the foregoing, those familiar with the art will understand that by the present invention I have increased the water capacity of the tender 'and that Ihave improved themeans for transferring fuel from the tender to the distributor on the locomotive byav novel relation of parts as set vforth in the appended claims.

I claim:4

l 1. In an, intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from lthe tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender'for'movement fore and aft 'with respect thereto, said conveyor member being Lausana;

'member mounted on the locomotiva and an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor members, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being exibly connected to the other of said conveyor members for lateral movement only with respect thereto. Y

2. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from-the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor members, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the other of vsaid conveyor members for lateral movement only With respect thereto, and means supporting saidintermediate conveyor member between the ends thereof. v

3. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely ofthe tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor Vmembers, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the other of said conveyor members for lateral movement onlywith respect thereto, and means on said locomotive supporting said intermediate conveyor member betevven the ends thereof.

4. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuelV from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement' fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor' member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an interl'mediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor members, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the other of said conveyor members for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and means on said tender supporting said intermediate conveyor member between the ends thereof.

5. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally With respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor members, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being exibly connected to the other of Vsaid comeycufI members for' lateral movement only with respect thereto,-and resilient means supportingv said intermediate conveyor member on'one of said interc'oupled vehicles.

6. In anfintercoupled locomotive and tender, vmeans for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive? comprising a conveyor member mounted on. the tender for movement fore and `aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member latsaid locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and -aft With respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing' movement of said conveyor member lati* lerally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, and an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on Said tender, said intermediate conveyor at its "il opposite end being flexibly connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive for lateral movement only with respect thereto.

8. In an intercoupled locomotive Vand tender,

means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aftwith respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means pref ventingmovement of said conveyor member laterally with vrespect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally'connected toI the conveyor member on said tender, said intermediate conveyor at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and means supporting said intermediate conveyor member between the ends thereof.

9. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on said tender, said intermediate conveyor at its opposite end being flexibly connected to 'the conveyor member on said locomotive for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and means between the ends of said intermediate conveyor member supporting it on said locomotive.

10. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender,

means for transferring vfuelfrom the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tend-er, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, and an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the conveyor member on said tender for lateral movement only with respect thereto. Y n

11. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel fromV the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movementrfore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted onrthe locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to. the conveyor member on said tender for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and means supporting said intermediate conveyor between the ends thereof.

12. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from thertender to said locomotive comprising `a conveyor member mounted on thetender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to saidV tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive, Vsaid intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the conveyor member on said tender for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and resilient means supporting said intermediate conveyor between the ends thereof.

13. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender for movement fore Vand aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member lat- .erally .withrespect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to the conveyor member on said locomotive, said intermediate conveyor member at its opposite end being exibly connected to the conveyor member on said tender for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and means between Athe ends of said intermediate conveyor member supporting it on the tender.

14. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member .mounted on the tender for movement fore and aft with respect thereto, said conveyor member being also mounted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally with respect to said tender, a conveyor member mounted on the locomotive, an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected-to the conveyor member on said locomotive, said intermediate conveyor memberat its opposite end being exibly connected to the conveyor member on said tender for lateral movement only with respect thereto, and resilient means between the ends of said intermediate conveyor member supporting it on the tender.

15. In an intercoupled locomotive and tender, means for transferring fuel from the tender to the locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on one of said intercoupled vehicles for Vmeans for transferring fuel from the tender to said locomotive comprising a conveyor member mounted on the tender formovement about an axis extending transversely of Vthe tender, means preventing movement of said conveyor member laterally lwith respect to said tender, a conveyor; member mounted on the locomotive, and an intermediate conveyor member at one end being universally connected to one of said conveyor members, said intermediate conveyor at its opposite end being flexibly connected to the other of said conveyor members for lateral movement only with respect thereto.

CHARLES J. SURDY. 

